Dos Santos is looking for a fight after failing to regain his belt against current champ Cain Velasquez this past October at UFC 166.

Many MMA observers have noted the Brazilian’s tough position in the big-man class, having lost a pair of lopsided bouts to the champ. There’s no doubt that the former titleholder sees Miocic as a good start to another title run.

“It’s actually a compliment,” Miocic said. “He was respectful about it. I got a million texts that day when [dos Santos’ interview] came out. I had no idea what anyone was talking about, and then I went online and I was like, ‘Ah, nice.'”

As much as he likes the fight, Miocic isn’t isn’t exactly ready to hop back in the octagon. He said he sustained a deep bone bruise from his most recent fight, a decision win over Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC on FOX 9, and is still nursing his limb. When he’s ready, however, he is game for any opponent.

Since a 2012 setback to Stefan Struve, the full-time Ohio firefighter has reeled off wins over Gonzaga and Roy Nelson, whom he dominated this past June at UFC 161. Overall, he’s 5-1 in the octagon.

“They were both tough; they both hit hard,” Miocic said of his recent challenges. “With Roy, you can’t judge a book by its cover. He’s very athletic and great on the ground.

“But Gonzaga caught me off guard a little bit. He moved really well. I really strive on keeping good positioning, and the one time he takes me down, he catches me perfectly off-guard. After that, I was very aware of what he was doing.”

Despite his win, Miocic was also frustrated with his striking in the bout, calling the first round of his performance “terrible.” He used the same word to describe the pain from Gonzaga’s leg kicks.

“I was hobbling everywhere,” he said. “That night, my girlfriend had to put on my pants for me. She was like, ‘I’m not impressed.'”

Clearly, though, his colleagues see it the opposite way. Although his opponents might see him as a stepping stone, Miocic is happy to be viewed as one. If he can beat more high-profile opponents, he’s the one who will seize an ultimate opportunity.

Asked how he felt to be in dos Santos’ crosshairs, the soft-spoken Miocic said: “Awesome. It’s great.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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